Fertility treatments, egg freezing and IVF: A guide for NZ employers

8 Apr

Fertility treatments can be physically demanding, emotionally draining, and logistically complex for employees. The process often involves numerous medical appointments, procedures, and recovery periods that impact work schedules and wellbeing.

Fertility challenges are common in New Zealand, with approximately 1 in 5 couples experiencing infertility. Each year, around 6,000 New Zealanders undergo some form of fertility treatment, with IVF being the most well-known but just one of several treatment options available.

Statutory entitlements

Unlike pregnancy or parental leave, there are no specific statutory leave entitlements for fertility treatments in New Zealand. Employees typically rely on:

Sick leave: For treatment days, procedures, and recovery
Annual leave: For appointments and recovery time when sick leave is exhausted
Unpaid leave: When other leave options are unavailable
Special leave: If included in employment agreements or workplace policies

Employers can also allow employees to use flexible work arrangements to adjust their work hours to accommodate fertility-related medical appointments.

Best practices for employers

Flexible work arrangements

Flexible hours: Allow adjustment of work schedules around treatment appointments
Remote work options: Offer work-from-home days during treatment cycles
Reduced hours: Consider temporary part-time arrangements during intensive treatment periods

Leave policies

Fertility treatment leave: Some progressive employers offer dedicated paid leave specifically for fertility treatments.
Extended sick leave: Consider additional sick leave allowances for employees undergoing fertility treatments.
Leave donation programmes: Allow colleagues to donate leave to those undergoing treatments.

Privacy and communication

Confidentiality: Ensure strict privacy around an employee's fertility journey.
Communication plans: Establish how and when the employee would like to be contacted.
Documentation sensitivity: Minimise required medical documentation to respect privacy.

Supporting both partners

Remember that fertility journeys affect partners too:

Partner support: Consider leave options for partners attending key appointments
Partner's emotional wellbeing: Extend EAP services to partners
Failed treatments: Be sensitive to the impact of unsuccessful treatment cycles on both parents

Read about Riss’ experience going through the egg freezing process

Creating a supportive policy

Consider developing a specific fertility treatment policy that:

Outlines available leave options
Details flexible work arrangements
Establishes clear, respectful communication protocols
Provides information about EAP services and external support resources, such as Fertility New Zealand

Need a hand improving your policy or modelling the cost?

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Now for the important legal part: The information we provide is general and not regulated financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. Please seek independent legal, financial, tax or other advice in considering whether the content in this article is appropriate for your goals, situation or needs. The information in this article is current as at 7 April 2025.